Folding leg fixture



7 1 m 3 t m 4 e N Z m E a V E m X NI EF GG m U m RM L AW.

Filed March 9, 1945 Aug. 1, i950 1950 A. P. JURGENSEN 2,517,437

FOLDING LEG FIXTURE Filed March 9, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 liq 4 5042515 L J WA VEN TOR fiyf w We Patented Aug. 1, 1950 FOLDING LEG FIXTURE August P: Jurgensen, New York, N. Y assignor,

by mesne assignments, to Rooney Metall roductsCorporation, .Hoboken, N.. J a. corporation.

of New Jersey Application March 9, 1945', Serial No. 581,778

6 Claims.

This invention relates to folding legs, which are; adapted to be:folded.i'r.om operative extended positions to. inoperative: folded positionson such items as: card tables;v collapsible chairs, ironing boards, outdoor furniture and suchother articles in: which folding legs; are, preferable to solidly fastenedlegs.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a folding leg'witha coating: or changeable fulcrum. around'. which the leg. swings from an operative. to an inoperative. position.

Another; object iscto. providean. extremely sturdy and; inflexible fixture fastened to a folding leg, which will be) easily and simply operated and which: will efiectively snap into locked engagement either in a. folded position or an extended position.

Still another object is'toprovideaiolding joint so; strong that it willnotrbenecessaryto use diagon'al braces to rigidify the: legs.

Other objects and. advantages: of this invention. will be pointed out intheifollowing. specificationand accompanying drawingsin. which I: have illustrated my invention. in. its; application to a folding table. In the drawings:

Fig. l: isa sectionalview takenon the. line I.-I of Fig. 3" andloolsing; in the direction: of: the at:-

rows.

Fig. 2; is: a view similar. to Fig; 1 showing the foldingaljegin a. diiierent position.

Fig: 3-.iszacross-section .on-the-line 3--3 of-Fig, 1 and looking in.the direction: of the arrows.

Fig. 4:- isa view. looking from bottom. to top at Fig. 3:;

Fig.5 is across-seotionon the1ine-5.-5 ofJFig. 1 and looking in: theldirectionof the arrows.

Fig. 6 is-a:cross-.-section.on the-lineB-S: of-Eig. 1 and looking in the. directionof. the arrows.

Fig. '7 isa plan viewshowing an: application of my inventionto a metallic table in which. my folding. structure. may, lie-welded. tothe table or fastened in some other suitable. way.

Fig. 8; is a section on theline 8-8 of. Fig. '7 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig.9 is a. SBCtiOIlyOIl the line 9-9 of Fig. 8- and looking in. the directionofithe arrows.

Fig. 10 is a detail on the line Ill-l ll andzlooking inthe direction oithearrows.

Referring now to the drawings, my improved folding; leg.- construction includes a stationary plate l5. fastened to the insideof the apron 16 of: atable; Plate H is fastened. to a leg. [8 and swings withsaid leg. [9 is a springadapted to holdlplate. H in alocked position with plate. l5.

. Referring; more particularly. to Fig, l -inlwhich 2. t l the leg l8 is shown in its operative extended positiomthe plate. l5 has four pressed up portions 20 (also. seeFig. 5) whiehare secured. firmly against the apron |6 by means of screws 2!. The reference-character 22 indicates a restrictedspace in which the spring I9 is placed. and free to operate. Stamped out portions 23-24. (alsosee Fig: 3) on the plate; l'lv engage andoverlap notches 2-5--26 on plate. [Sand are held in a locked, upward position due topressure of spring "9- by means of hook. 1-9 which. goes through a hole in plate: l'|-.

When the. leg H3v is tobe swung from its ex.- tended position-shown in Fig. 1 to its folded position shown inzFig. 2, theleg I8 is pulled down: in the. direction. of. arrow 21, then swung in the directionofarrowZB-and the leg snapsintonotches 29P-3ll in aloclsed position because of spring l8. Whenthe legl8 is'torbe moved from its. folded to its extended position the operation just described is reversed. The. leg l8: shown in dotted lines in Fig. .2. is-ran intermediate position.

Theplate I Scomprises-a fixed anchor member adapted to be fastened to. a frame portion: of a table orthe like: and the leg plate. I comprises a revolvable member movable thereon and adaptedz to. beiastened. to a folding leg. These plates I51 andl-l. areeach substantially flat and when. connected together form a thin". fixture-to permit insertionbetween narrowly-spaced adjacent sidesurfacesof a vertically disposed rim membe:v and l the leg. Said plates 1 5 1 and. I1 have flat sliding-contact faces and; when the plates are initially slid longitudinally or linearly relatively toeach a other, the protruding stamped out portions or looking tongues 23--24 of the: plate ILwhich are-raisedsumciently abovesaid slidlug-contact face oithe-said-plate l1, will extend over the: edges-of thelocking notches 26-4!) and 25-29. in the plate. l5 and over the edges of track. portions 34 and 34? between. such locking notches to produce an overlapping interengagement therewith. which is thereafter maintained while theplates. are: mounted in operative position: Theleg. plate l 'l. is-urged linearly by the spring L9: in; an upward" direction. toward? said notches; and": tracks. and parallelv with the axis of the. leg, and consequently the revolvabla leg platelwill; at all; times. during, movement, be held in interengagement with the stationary tableplate While.- the; flat faces of said plates. will. be maintained in :loosely contacting relationship. to permit both linear and-arcuate sliding movement of the leg plate over said fixed plate. Thus. the flat outer: face-of; the fixedplate l5-serves asa base on which the flat outer surface of the revolvable leg-plate IT, in its movement from folded to extended positions and vice versa, rubs and rides through a quadrant arc of a circle. The locking notches 26 and 30 are formed within the borders of the plate l5 and are internal notches adapted to produce a primary locking of the plates while the locking notches 25 and 29 are external notches formed in the outer edge of said plate in alignment with said internal notches. As illustrated, an internal substantially circular aperture 33 is provided within the borders of the stationary plate l5 and the locking notches 26 and 30 are formed at quadrantal positions in the upper edges of said aperture and are connected by a track portion 34 which extends between such notches 26 and 30. Said aperture also has a major concentric arcuate edge portion 34 positioned opposite to said interengaging track portion 34 and to said locking notches, and I utilize said edge portion 34 as a stop against excessive linear movement of the plate I! and a guide-track for a fulcrum or pair of fulcrum members 3| and 32 on the leg plate As shown, the fulcrum members 3| and 32 are positioned on said plate I! below said locking tongues and are pressed up from the metal of the plate I! to protrude into said circular aperture above said major arcuate stop and guide edge 34 of the aperture 33. Said protruded fulcrum members 3| and 32 and the edge track 34 are rela tively positioned in relation to said track 34* to permit a sufficient linear movement to enable locking and releasing movements of said tongue 24 into the edge notches 26 and 30, while functioning as a limiting stop for said releasing movement so as to prevent disengagement of the plates at the end of a manual notch-releasing movement 'of the leg and its plate II. The fulcrum members 3| and 32, when manually pulled down into engagement with said edge portion 34 then assume a position in which they will, in conjunction with said edge portion 34 guide the leg plate in an arcuate movement from one extreme position to the other and will serve as spaced nonwedging fulcrums during such movement.

The movement of the locking tongue 24 radially of the circular aperture 33 to enter the notches 26 and 30 thus produces a primary locking en gagement between the leg plate I! and the stationary plate l5, and, in the preferred form of my invention, I provide means for producing a secondary locking engagement between the said plates l5 and I! by providing in the leg plate 11 the raised or struck-up locking tongue 23 adapted to enter and interengage with quadrantly-positioned outer-edge locking notches 25 and 29 aligned radially in the outer edge of the plate IS with the primary locking notches 26 and 30 and also to interengage with a guiding track portion 3| positioned between and connecting the notches 25 and 29.

The power of the spring I9 is applied to the revolvable leg H3 at a point adjacent to the upper end thereof and the fulcrum members 3|, 32 are revolvable with said leg and positioned below the point of application of power. This is accomplished by anchoring the spring IS on one of the pressed up studs 20 extending a portion thereof across the stationary plate I 5 into abutment with a second pressed up stud 20 and then re-entrantly bending the free end to provide an angular op- In the preferred form of my invention, the pair application.

In operation, the power of the spring is adapted to press or force the leg plate l1 and leg l6 linearly or in a direction parallel to the axis thereof toward the locking notches to cause a locking movement thereof, while a reverse movement manually will cause a release from such notches. Upon such reverse downward manual linear movement of the leg, the protruding studs will engage two points of the major arcuate guiding edge portion of the circular opening or hole 33, and functioning as a non-wedging double fulcrum. will, in engagement with said major arcuate guiding edge, enable a facile manual movement of the revolvable leg plate I! from folded to extended positions and vice versa. While the leg is thus being swung manually from the folded position shown in Fig. 2 to the extended position shown in Figs. 1 and 3 the non-wedging points of contact of the fulcrum members with the said major arcuate guiding track will assume and maintain a triangular relationship to the point of application of power, and viewing the leg as a lever moving about said fulcrum with the power of the spring as the load, an easy movement of the load is assured, and in view of the leverage thus obtained a spring may be employed that is sufiiciently strong or powerful to cause a positive, quick and snapping movement of the locking tongues into their respective notches so soon as the alignment therewith is reached.

In assembling my fixture for attachment to the leg and table I preferably first securely'fas'ten the leg plate I! to a surface of the leg |8 by the screws 35. The plate I5 is then mounted in proper position on the plate II, the spring is applied and the leg with the parts thus mounted is placed'in position over the apron and fastened thereto by the screws 2|. Three of these screws may be applied while the leg is in the position shown in Fig. 1 and the other screw may be applied when the leg is turned into the position shown in Fig. 2.

Figs. 7-10 inclusive show an application of my invention to a metallic folding table. The stamped portions 23-24 and protrusions 3| 32 are drawn from the metal of the leg itself thereby eliminating completely the use of the leg plate II. If very thin material is used for the leg, heavier metal clips could be welded on to take the place of the portions 23 -24. The pressed up portion 26 would be welded to the apron of the table or fastened in any other suitable way. Plate |5 could also be provided with an angular piece 36, also welded to the apron of the table, and adapted to give reinforcement to the corner of the table. I have also shown a modification of the spring I5. As previously described the spring |5 hooked into the leg plate As shown in Figs. 8-9 the spring |5 is straight at the active end and works against protrusion 31 of the leg.

I claim:

1. In a fixture for a folding leg including a. folding leg and a supporting frame, the combination of a pair of plate members of rigid material,

one of said plate members being fastened to a surface of the folding leg and the other member being attached to an adjacent surface of the supporting frame, each of said plate members having substantially flat outer surfaces facing creams-'2' each" other: anddisposed in: lappecl' relationship, oneof 'saidb plate members being asingle stations ary: base plate fixedly mounted in spaced relationship to l thesupporting frame surface to provide a restricted space between said stationary plate and said" frame surface and, to cause the inner plate surface within said restricted space tobe positioned'above said supporting frame surface, andthe other-plate member-being a single "movable plate fastened to and movable with the folding leg, said movable plate being' mounted on said base plate to have arcuate-and radial sliding movements on'thefacingsurface thereof, said stationary base plate having an aperture positioned interiorly of the plate edges, said aperture having formed in. its edge. a pair of locking notehesarranged in alignment with the longitudinali axis. of. the folding legv in thefolded and extending positions, thereof, said aperture also having formed, in its, edge a track portion disposed between said notches, said movable plate having a protruding locking tongue engageable upon said radial sliding movement of said mov ableplate with said locking notches and being movable in said arcuate movement along said intermediate; track, said: locking tongue also. having a rim: portion extending into: said restricted space; to engage and slidably move during said arcuate and radial movements in contact with said inner surface of" said stationar plate along the 1e$1Qf Sa ld nBtCh8fi and track portion and to serve as an engaging and assembling'el'ement for said movable andistationarymembers, and a spring normally urging said locking tongue in the direction of said notches and intermediate track.

' 2. A fixture for a folding legas claimed in claim 1 in whichthe. stationary base plate also has an outer edge providedwith secondary looking, notches aligned withthe locking notches of said interior apertureandsaid outer edgedsprovided with an intermediate track connecting said secondary locking notches, and said movable plate has a second locking tongue engageable with opposite surfaces of said stationary plate along said secondary locking notches and their connecting track.

3. In a fixture for a folding leg including a folding leg and a supporting frame, the combination of a pair of plate members of rigid material, one of said plate members being fastened to a surface of the folding leg and the other member being attached to an adjacent surface of the supporting frame, each of said plate members having substantially flat outer surfaces facing each other and disposed in lapped relationship, one of said plate members being a single stationary base plate fixedly mounted in spaced relationship to the supporting frame surface to provide a restricted space between said stationary plate and said frame surface and to cause the inner plate surface within said restricted space to be positioned above said supporting frame surface, and the other plate member being a single movable plate fastened to and movable with the folding leg, said movable plate being mounted on said base plate to hav arcuate and radial sliding movements on the facing surface thereof, said stationary base plate having an aperture positioned interiorly of the plate edges, said aperture having formed in its edge a pair of locking notches arranged in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the folding leg inthe folded and extended positions thereof, said aperture also having; formedin: its: edge-1 a m portiondisposed between said' notchcs; jsaid mov able plate having a protruding locking tongue engageableupon said radial sliding movement of saidmovable plate with saidlocking notehes and being'movable insaid arcuate movement; along said intermediate-track; said locking-tongue also having a rim portion extending into saidrestrict edspace to engage and slidably move-during said arcuate and radial" movements incontactwith said inner surface of said stationary 'platealong, the edges of said notches and track portion and to serve-as an engaging and'assemblingelement forsaid movable and stationary members, said movable plate also having protruding-fulcrum means positioned within said interior-aperture to serveas a stop forlimiting and preventing ex!- cess-ive radial sliding movement of said" movable plateto avoid disengagement ofthe rim flange portion and; also to function as a" shifting'fulcrum movable alongan edge portion of'isaidcircular aperture remote from said lockingnotches-to-ene able aguidedpmovement of saidlocking tongue fromone locking notch to the-other, anda spring normally urging said locking tongue 'in the di rection of said notchesand intermediatetrack,

4. A fixture for afolding leg as claimed in claim 3 in which the protruding fulcrum means comprises apair of protruding-fulcrum "members, and one of the members-ofsaidpairis positioned adjacent to and at one side of the'longitudina'l median line of; said movable plate and the other member is similarlypositioned at the opposite side ofsaidmedianline.

5. In a fixture fora folding legincluding a folding leg and'asupporting frame, thecombination of a pair of plate membersofrigidmaterial, one of" said plate mernbers being fastened to a surface of the folding leg and the-other member beingattached to an adjacentsurface ofthe supporting fraane, each ofsaid plate members having substantially-fiat outer surfaces facing each other and disposed in lapped relationship, one of said plate members being a single stationary base plate fixedly mounted in spaced relationship to the supporting frame surface to provide a restricted space between said stationary plate and said frame surface and to cause the inner plate surface within said restricted space to be positioned above said supporting frame surface, and the other plate member being a single movable plate fastened to and movable with the folding leg, said movable plate being mounted on said base plate to have arcuate and radial sliding movements on the facing surface thereof, said stationary base plate having an aperture positioned interiorly of the plate edges, said aperture having formed in its edge a pair of locking notches arranged in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the folding leg in the folded and extended positions thereof, said aperture also having formed in its edge a track portion disposed between said notches, said movable plate having a protruding locking tongue engageable upon said radial sliding movement of said movable plate with said locking notches and being movable in said arcuate movement along said intermediate track, said locking tongue also having a rim portion extending into said restricted space to engage and slidably move during said arcuate and radial movements in contact with said inner surface of said stationary plate along the edges of said notches and track portion and to serve as an engaging and assembling element for said movable and stationary members, said stationary baseplate having protrusions on its frame-facing surface to provide said restricted space? between said plate and said stationary frame. surface, and a spring anchored and .confined within said restricted space and engaging said movable member to cause said tongue to be .moved in the direction of said locking notches and intermediate track.

6. In a fixture for a folding leg including a folding leg and a supporting frame, the combination of a pair of plate members of rigid material, one of said plate members being fastened to a surface of the folding leg and the other member being attached to an adjacent surface of the supporting frame, each of said plate mem- ,bers having substantially flat outer surfaces facing each other and disposed in lapped relationship oneof said plate members being a single stationary base plate fixedly mounted in spaced relationship to the supporting frame surface to provide a restricted space between said stationary plate :and said frame surface and to cause the inner platesurface within said restricted space to be positioned above said supporting frame surface, and the other plate member being a single movable plate fastened to and movable with the folding leg, said movable plate being mounted on saidbase plate to have arcuate and radial sliding movements on the facing surface thereof, said stationary base plate having an aperture positioned interiorly 0f the plate edges, said aperture having formed in its edge a pair of locking notches arranged in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the folding leg in the folded and extended positions thereof, said aperture also having formed in its edge a track portion disposed bet ween said notches, said movable plate having -a protruding locking tongue engageable upon said radial sliding movement of said movable plate with said locking notches and being movable in said arcuate movement along said intermediate track, said locking tongue also having a rim por- 8 tion extending into said restricted space to engage and slidably move during said arcuate and radial movements in contact with said inner surface of said stationary plate along the edges of said notches and track portion and to serve as an engaging and assembling element for said movable and stationary members, said stationary plate also having an outer edge provided with secondary locking notches aligned with the looking notches of said interior aperture and having an intermediate connecting track, and said movable plate having a second locking tongue engageable with opposite sides of said stationary-plate along said secondary locking notches and their connecting track, said movable plate also having a pair of protruding-fulcrums positioned within said interior aperture to serve as stops for limit- ,ing and preventing excessive radial sliding movement of said movable plate and to avoid disengagement of the rim flange portion and so to function as shifting fulcrums movable along an edge portion of said circular aperture remote from said locking notches to enable a guided movement of said locking tongue from one locking notch to the other, and a spring mounted on said stationary plate and engaging said movable plate to normally urge said locking tongue in the direction of said notches and intermediate tracks.

AUGUST 1?. JURGENSEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain Jan. 11,1935

Certificate of Correction August 1, 1950 Patent No. 2,5511%"! AUGUST P. JURGENSEN d that error appears in the printed specification of the above It is hereby certifie numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 1, line 9, for the Word coating read floating;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read as corrected above, so that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 7th day of November, A. D. 1950.

[SEAL] THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant C'ommz'ssz'oner of Patents. 

